Ozzy Osbourne spent part of his 64th birthday yesterday (Monday, December 3) recording vocals on the new BLACK SABBATH album at a Los Angeles studio.

A photo of Osbourne in the studio laying down tracks on the CD can be seen below.

As previously reported, BLACK SABBATH took part in a photo shoot on Friday (November 30) with famed British photographer/artist Sam Taylor-Wood.

BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi clarified the status of the band’s new CD in an interview with “The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show”. Although it has been reported that the band has recorded 15 songs, Iommi explained, “That’s wrong . . . We’ve written 15 songs and we’ve played them all. But now, at the moment, we’re recording them. We recorded them at my house first, in England, just as demos, but now we’re doing them for real. So we’re about six tracks in now, at the moment.”

Iommi, Osbourne and bassist Geezer Butler are recording their first album together under the SABBATH name since 1978’s “Never Say Die”.

The drums on the disc are being handled by Tommy Clufetos, who has replaced founding drummer Bill Ward due to a contractual dispute between Ward and the rest of the group.

Asked if there is any chance of Ward rejoining the band, Iommi said, “We’ll always have a heart for Bill, but I think it’s gone past that now, because it’s gone on so long that I don’t see that happening at the moment. Maybe at some point we might [play together again].”

Meanwhile, SABBATH has announced an Australian tour for next April and has also revealed that it will headline the first-ever Japanese version of Ozzfest on May 11-12, with SLIPKNOT also on the bill.